drawing with dip pens and flex nibs

maya angelou quote written with dip pen


Over a year ago, I bought a bamboo dip pen and have enjoyed drawing with that using sumi ink. And last year, I started using disposable fountain pens by pilot. So when I came across this typography link to the postman's knock on the letter writer alliance site, I basically fell down the rabbit hole and that is where I have been for the last three weeks.


drawing using a dip pen with carl kuhn & co nib,
scablosa ink by rohrer & klingner


My new found love of handwriting styles led me to flex nibs which led me to dip pens. After ordering my fountain pens and inks from goulet pens, I decided I wanted flex nibs in order to get the range of lines and details.   I found a reasonable intro set with nibs included at jbbpenandpaper.




I've been practicing writing and drawing with the dip pens and find my hand does not get as tired. Even better, I can get a good range of line thicknesses.

materials used for the above drawing/collage:

ROHRER & KLINGNER ink in scablosa (iron gall)
GOLDEN acrylic in hansa yellow medium
DANIEL SMITH watercolor in iridescent electric blue
CANSON 98b mix media paper

If you have any favorite inks, I'd love to know!


joining sunday sketches

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